I’m going to gush for a second.Gail Carriger’s Soulless is a pretty freaking sweet read.It was absolutely perfect for a quiet, rainy Friday night.Hilarious, sweet, feisty, interesting (or am I just talking about main character Alexia Tarabotti?), and what I’d have to call my ideal mix of paranormal, sci-fi and ROMANCE.

I’ll admit it.I’m a closet trashy romance reader.Recently I’ve been cutting down on reading said books and looking for fantasy and sci-fi with a relational focus.Soulless totally did the trick for me.LOVED it.Why?Witty dialogue.Unique setting (I’m not a heavy steampunk reader, and if you aren’t either, this would be a great entry-level book).An amazing cast of characters, all of whom give you something to love, or wonder about, or just shake your head a little bit with a smile.Did I mention witty dialogue?Need I point out the fabulous cover art?The fact that this one is the first in at least a trilogy?That it has vampires (which I’m kind of over, but yeah), werewolves (SO hot) and parasols?!In other words, Soulless was for me.Also, I want Alexia’s wardrobe.

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she is being rudely attacked by a vampire to whom she has not been properly introduced!

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire, and the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible.

Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? And who is the real enemy . . . and do they have treacle tart?

Soulless is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking…

Recommended for anyone who might like light steampunk, werewolves, paranormal happenings, romance, London in the Gaslight Era, and funny (amusing funny, not ‘something might be a little off’ funny), comical amazing-ness.Enjoy!

I am so so so excited to read this. I prefer my romance with a bit of a fantasy/sci fi edge, too, although I long ago stopped being closeted about my enjoyment of trashy novels. Give me a good historical romance and I'll show you a happy reader! But steampunk romance, and a funny one to boot, now, that sounds absolutely delightful.

so i was looking through this catalogue and they had a whole bunch of victorian dresses in it and stuff like that (i don't really know why) and it totally made me think of you and this whole steampunk thing. not being creepy or anything-- just thought i would put that out there ;p